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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: cap · press · leaves · suit · roll · prune · current · mark

  1. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. cap — a lid
  3. current — electric
  4. cap — of ice
  5. press — newspapers
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. prune — to trim
  8. suit — to fit
  9. suit — clothes
  10. roll — a list
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. roll — a cake
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. current — of water
  15. cap — a hat
  16. suit — in cards
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. press — to push
  21. mark — a grade
  22. mark — a trace
  23. current — happening now
  24. press — a publisher

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com